Goodstart Early Learning Torquay

Thankyou to our Torquay community for the donations

Strong relationships are the foundation for confident, curious learners 💛

Goodstart’s key educator approach ensures every child is known, supported and feels safe - through consistent, nurturing connections with educators and meaningful partnerships with families. These bonds help build wellbeing, resilience and a true sense of belonging from day one.

Discover how this approach supports your child’s learning journey: https://brnw.ch/2

Did you know we invested $65.5M into our social purpose last year, a 14% increase on the year before? 👏 At Goodstart, we're proud of the impact we have on children, families and communities. As a not‑for‑profit, every dollar we earn is reinvested to improve outcomes – from high‑quality learning and educator development to extra support for children who need it most.
Because when we put children first, the impact goes further 💛

The research is clear 📚 reading aloud is one of the most powerful things we can do for our children.

When we read with a child, we’re doing far more than sharing a story. We’re building the foundations for language, confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Decades of research shows that children who are read to regularly:

💛 Build stronger language skills
Hearing rich varied language in books exposes children to far more words than everyday conversation alone. This growing vocabulary helps them understand, communicate and make sense of the world.

💛 Develop early literacy skills long before they learn to read
Through stories, children learn how books work – that print carries meaning, that pages turn left to right, and that stories have a beginning, middle and end. These early understandings make learning to read feel familiar and exciting.

💛 Strengthen phonological awareness
Rhymes, rhythms and playful sounds help children hear the building blocks of language.

💛 Grow their comprehension and thinking skills
Talking together about a story, predicting what might happen, wondering how a character feels, and connecting events to real life helps children develop memory, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.

💛 Experience connection, comfort and joy
Shared reading fosters calmness, closeness, and moments of joint attention. These warm interactions support a child's sense of security and belonging.

Most importantly, children who experience positive, engaging reading moments from a young age are more likely to develop a genuine love of books - something that matters even more than early literacy skills alone.

Reading is simple, joyful, and sets children up for success in school and life.

Here is a list of some of our favourites below 👇

🍓👩‍🍳 Little Hands, Big Learning! 👨‍🍳🍌

There’s something truly special about watching children create something from scratch! 💚

At our centre, cooking experiences are so much more than making delicious treats – they’re opportunities for children to learn, explore and build confidence in a fun, hands-on way.

Through cooking, our children are developing:
🥣 Independence and confidence
🔢 Early maths skills through measuring and counting
📖 Language and communication as they follow recipes and discuss ingredients
🤲 Fine motor skills through mixing, pouring, rolling and decorating
🧠 Problem-solving and critical thinking
🤝 Teamwork, patience and turn-taking
🥕 Healthy eating habits and a willingness to try new foods
✨ A sense of pride and achievement in creating something they can enjoy with their friends

Every recipe becomes an exciting learning experience, encouraging curiosity, creativity and a love of trying new things.

We believe the best learning happens when children are actively involved, getting a little messy, asking questions, experimenting and having fun. These everyday experiences create lasting memories while supporting every area of a child’s development.

Swipe through to see some of the delicious creations our amazing little chefs have been busy making! 💛

Looking for a centre where learning is meaningful, engaging and filled with opportunities for your child to grow? We’d love to welcome you into our close-knit community. Book a tour and come see the magic for yourself! 🌿🏡

📚🌿 Learning Through Literacy & Nature 🌿📚

At our centre, we believe some of the best learning happens through stories, conversations and hands-on exploration.

By combining early literacy experiences with natural resources, children build language, creativity and problem-solving skills while developing a genuine curiosity about the world around them. Whether it’s storytelling with nature treasures, creating letters from sticks and leaves, or exploring books inspired by the outdoors, every experience encourages a lifelong love of learning.

✨ Inspiring curious minds, one story and one adventure at a time.

🎒📚 Building Bright Futures Through Strong School Partnerships 📚🎒

Starting school is a big milestone, and we believe every child deserves to feel confident, capable and excited for the journey ahead.

That’s why we’re proud to have strong partnerships with our local primary schools, helping to create a smooth and positive transition from kindergarten to Prep.

Throughout the year, our children have opportunities to:
🏫 Visit local primary schools and become familiar with the school environment.
👩‍🏫 Meet teachers and experience classroom routines.
🎨 Participate in shared learning experiences and special activities.
🤝 Build confidence in new environments before their first day of school.
💬 Develop the social, emotional and communication skills that support a successful transition.

Our Kindergarten program focuses on so much more than learning letters and numbers. We nurture independence, resilience, problem-solving, confidence and a love of learning—skills that help children thrive not only in Prep, but throughout their education.

By working closely with local schools, families and our educators, we ensure every child is supported as they take this exciting next step.

Watching our Kindergarten children grow into confident, capable learners ready for their school journey is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. 💚

Together, we’re helping children walk into their first day of school feeling ready to learn, ready to make friends and ready to shine. ✨

🌿🌊 Learning Beyond the Classroom 🌊🌿

There’s no better classroom than nature.

Our Bush & Beach Kinder program gives children the opportunity to explore, discover and learn in the beautiful natural environments around us. From sandy shores and rock pools to bush tracks and open spaces, every adventure sparks curiosity, confidence and a lifelong connection with the world around them.

These experiences help children develop:
🍃 Confidence, resilience and independence
🌱 A love and respect for nature and the environment
🏃 Gross motor skills through climbing, balancing, running and exploring
🔍 Curiosity, problem-solving and critical thinking
💬 Communication and teamwork as they work together and share discoveries
❤️ Risk assessment skills by learning to navigate challenges in a safe, supported environment
🧠 Creativity and imagination through open-ended play
😊 Mindfulness and wellbeing, with the calming benefits of spending time outdoors

Whether we’re searching for interesting shells, observing wildlife, collecting natural treasures or simply enjoying the fresh ocean air, every outing creates meaningful learning experiences that can’t be replicated indoors.

Our educators embrace children’s curiosity, following their interests and turning everyday moments into exciting opportunities for discovery and growth.

We are so fortunate to have the incredible beaches and bushland on our doorstep, allowing our children to build confidence, create lasting memories and develop a genuine appreciation for the natural world.

💚 We can’t wait to see where our next adventure takes us!

To ensure that all families have an equal opportunity to receive information and ask questions, we will be hosting a Kindergarten Information Session on 15 July.

The purpose of this session is to:
• Provide an overview of how funded kindergarten operates
• Offer information about the Free Kinder initiative
• Discuss the allocation of kindergarten funding within our service
• Outline the considerations involved in planning programs such as Bush and Beach Kinder
• Clarify information contained in our recent emails
• Address any questions families may have about our 2027 kindergarten offerings

We encourage all families to attend, regardless of whether they have already made decisions for next year.

Our objective is to ensure that families have a comprehensive understanding of the funded kindergarten program and the opportunities available to children at Goodstart Torquay.